ARC Review: That Cowboy of Mine

That Cowboy of Mine

by Donna Grant 

Blurb:

Is he an enemy?

Dillon Young is proud that she inherited her aunt’s ranch. The problem: someone is trying to run her off and is willing to do whatever it takes. Strange, dangerous things keep happening. Dillion suspects her no-good neighbor and fellow wealthy rancher Hank Stephens. Never a man to get his hands dirty, he sends others to get the job done. So, when the irresistible Cal Bennett is found passed out drunk on her property, Dillion is on high alert. Until someone takes a shot at her and Cal springs to her rescue. When the hard-bodied, no-nonsense-talking cowboy points out that she may need some help, Dillion is inclined to reluctantly agree.

Or a lover?

Waking up on a stranger’s property with a shotgun in his face is not Cal Bennett’s idea of a good time. Never mind that the woman on the other end of the barrel is one of the most fiercely beautiful women he has ever seen. Things get more interesting when he finds himself shielding her from flying bullets. It’s clear that this smart, savvy woman could use a hand and he is all too happy to lend any part of his body she requires. His proposal: pose as lovers until they find out who is after her ranch. As the danger rises and secrets are revealed, the passion explodes between them. There is no turning back.

Themes:  Contemporary

Rating: 3.75 stars

Heat Rating: 

Review:

I must admit that after the last cowboy release from Donna Grant I went into this story with exceptionally high hopes and expectations, and though I overall enjoyed the story, I have to say this one didn’t rise to my expectations as much as I would have hoped. Obviously I have never read a Grant novel I hated or wouldn’t read again, but this story was not up to the normal level of awesome.  Grant’s cowboy novels are always amazing and this story was filled with everything that I would want in a great read, intrigue, betrayal, and romance, but there seemed to have lacked the usual depth and emotional connection between Dillon and Cal for me.  Dillon has had a lot of problems in her past with people disappointing her and she doesn’t trust easily, so when she meets the mysterious and confusing Cal she can’t understand why she almost immediately trusts him with her life.  Cal wakes up with a gun in his face and no idea how he ended up on the land of the sexy rancher that is holding the gun, but he is drawn to her snarky, sassy self and when he discovers her life is in danger, jumps right in to offer his –somewhat meager—services as a bodyguard. The more they spend time together the more they both come to believe that there is much more going on around them they than initially believed, but there is some missing piece that neither can seem to find.  Together they dig through layers of deceit and mistruths, but the connection between them draws them together in passion and there is no denying the need they feel for one another.  When Dillon learns something that makes it nearly impossible for her to continue to trust in Cal, he has to work harder to find the full story and protect the woman that has stolen his heart and soul, or it might just cost both their lives.

While I enjoyed the overall storyline, the mystery and the connections that were uncovered gradually, there was just something lacking in this one for me and I couldn’t connect like I usually can to any Grant story.  I liked Dillon well enough though she let her mistrust and fear leave her in the darkness entirely too much, walling off her heart and doubting her instincts instead of trusting in the one person she always should—herself.  Had she looked deeper into her own life and what led to her fears it was entirely possible she wouldn’t have had half the problems she did and maybe that was why she wasn’t one of my favorite characters.  Cal is the epitome of a loose and carefree cowboy that has hit rock bottom, and I enjoyed getting to see him find his own way out of that stereotype.  It was obvious he was over living his selfish life and wanted to find a place for himself, and when Dillon captured his heart right away he is determined to offer himself up to her 100%.  I will say that there was no lack of passion or sensual connection between these two, even if the emotional connection was hard to find due to Dillon’ trust issues.  Maybe I just wasn’t in the right frame of mind at the time of read this one, and I will certainly give it a reread later on and see how I feel then, because Donna Grant’s books never have left me wanting before.  That said, if you are looking for a fun romantic-suspense with sexy cowboys and creepy villains this story will give you everything you want.  I’m looking forward to whatever comes next on the contemporary shelf for Ms. Grant and hope I’m in the right frame of mind to love it as I have previous stories.

*eARC provided by author for the purpose of an honest and unbiased review.  No compensation was provided.